Electric-current conducting and distributing means.



F. A. ZIKA. ELECTRIC CURRENT CONDUCTING AND DISTRIBUTING MEANS, APPLICATION FILED 1m 9, 191a.

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gect of AUStI'iEirH M :a' and resident of m r y ele: is current comic "3 and *listmbutin mm 7 I snis choracte buting high toe spark plugs ceugine.

Heretofore the common, and 1 universal practice has been 0 connect the spark plugs. ters of combustion engines wires corresponding in size current to be carried by tl are therefore so small that they qucntly broken by the constant produced by the operation of the ca which also finally crystallizes co their structure thereby incr tendencyto break, and if not, o cc from exposure to oil and short circu. Water, whichwires being as they are, or less over burdened-with a i'iQLtV" coat ng of insulation, frequently break, or are sh circuitecl by water Without there oeing us visibleiexterior' signs to indicate where the trouble is, whether a short circuit, or creek is located; and as a result of Whi e"? t is numerous Wire connection is entirely unreliable and unsstisfactory.

i118 prime object of tl'iis hive" means by which it is for the first t me 11':- possible and 1.1 ccicul to connect the with the distributer of internal ccn'icn engines however many there be, and in the entire absence oi the use of numerous Wires, of delicate Wires and of any which can possibly be subject to any of me conditions and objections above specified.

Furthermore to accomplish the above object by means of roletabie structure herein-- after specifically i cribed as such, as distinguished from iii structure clescribecl' s w re is L Mil-Zia.

' L-EEQUES.

rates combining-iii s single we mean for conducti the high notes-- .i current from a source e1 electric simply to the several spark plugs" of the cylinders or" internal engines,'wl1erein if e conductor is highly insulated; bodily supported, and thereby protected the (isle erious efi'ects resulting from rnechaiiicei *Jibration; which is capable of uting'tlie current the ignition s} i 01 k; time reiw men tn the ov: or the respective M19113, is cegoln K cent to advance or .h" v .I- a .I. E ethic tne spar tun. em Whll reierence to sue iustorn nen tion is to prc- 1e means i no apparatus irom either of one or more independent is V sour ces 0.1. current supply.

I Ginger and furth r c-li ects of my invention apparent to persons join 2. c ,nsu'ieration of the Circeing -n oi engin s tie e e i so -52 i" an emerged, '7 ,t in on line it transverse section r F 4 is 11 i1 section taken on line of 85 5 is sensing ccntsining an induction coil and a 'sWitchlopersble to switch the seconoiary of the induction coil to a live element of the dlficiiifll'tfii' and. siinn tene- 'QHASij close the primsry cire lift of said induction coil. and to open s circuit when the magnets is adapted to be put into electrical communication? with said. conductor and to close said magneto circuit for this purpose. 95

I l? s c-own. my improves conductor and disti-ibuter ire-association with an engine adapted to propel en automobiie and in this particular exernelificetion 16 represents the side frame of an automobile, 11 a four cyiiiw. der ei'igine; s higii potential, double circuit magneto enact 13, means "for driving the inductor of the magneto. from the shaft of the engine.

14, 15, 16 and 17 are the spark plugs of "the respective cylinders of the engine.

- 18 is the stem, or tube, for supporting the vehicle steering wheel and containing'a shaft that communicates with the running gearv of I the vehicle.

19 is a shaft adapted for movement to vary the spark lead, arranged for proper commimication with the distributer. In this specific instance, 20 is a crank arm adapted forcommunication with my distributing apparatus by means of' links and shafts to behereinafter more fully described.

Specifically 21 is a brass tube, or acket,

loosely held in brackets 22 and 23 at the respective ends thereof. Each bracket consists of a strap 24 that surrounds the tube 21 and is secured to a cleat 25,'fixed.to the engine head 11 and secured to the said bracket by means of bolts 26. The arrangement is such that the diameter of the band 24 may be readily adjusted so as to permit the jacket 21 to turn freely therein andyet with some frictional resistance so that it may remain place to which it has been 'rot'atably moved.

a An-inner, rotatable member 25 consists of a metal tube 26 that projects somewhat beyond the outer jacket 21 at each end, as at 27 and 28. The tube 26 is mounted upon a shaft 29 that is insulated therefrom by means of a hard rubbertube '30. The shaft 29 extends part-way through the tube. 30 at one end and projects therefrom at the other end into a bearing 31, that is located within the magneto 12, and carries on its outer end a gear wheel 32, that is in mesh with a pinion tor of the magneto. Power is communicated to the Wheel 32 by means of apair of bevfee bii' 25 may be ,freely and readily rotated 15 eled gears 34 and 35. The wheel'32 is rotated at the proper speed relation with reference to the pistons within the cylinders of the engine 11. Any means, other than that shown, may be employed for rotating the shaft 29, in order that it maypreserve the proper synchronism with the reciprocat ing pistons.

The metal conducting tube 26, of my distributer, is surrounded by a rubber tube 36,

within its protecting jacket support.

rotating member 25. I

the tube 36 and are brought intof electrics-fl.

33 secured on theshaft of the induc Located at intervals of 90 degrees around the axis of the rotating member 25, fbika' four cylinder engine, are conducting plugs or buttons 40, 41, 42, 43, of which there' are fouigone-corresponding to each of .thef respective cylinders and which arc preferably, .fiush with the outer su-r-facenfthe These ib ttonsf pass contact with the rotating tube 26, located in a vertical plane, and secured to the :ollter tube, or jacket 21, are four or' con-' ductors 45, 46, 47, and 48 thathave electrical association with the --cfontact pieces or buttons 41,- 42, 43, and 44, respectively.

In the specific illustration the parts -47 are shown to carry spring pressed shoes 50, which normally bear upon the outer surface of the rotating member 25. It is not essential that the shoes 50 should make actual metallic contact with the buttons 41.44 of the rotating member, as its close proximity is all that is'necessary, in order that thesparks shall pass from the rotating conductor to the relatively stationary shoes 50. The shoes, 50, and conductors 4548 are secured to the casing 21 by screw plugs 52 which carry insulating thimbles 53.

By this means the relatively fixed conducting parts are entirelyand completely insulated from the casing- 21. t

- Telescoping conductors, capable of linear adjustment, carry the current from the stems 45-48 to the conducting portions'of the respective spark plugs 16. They-each consist of an inner member 54,.pivoted to a contacting member 55, as at 56, and an,overlying stems 45-48 as at 58.' Thisouter metallic tube is covered by an insulating tube 59,

tubular member 57, pivoted-to the .composed preferably of hardrubbenor the like.

By this means the distance between the spark 01115.16 and the-respective stem I,

may be varie I oscillated. A screw cap 60, surrounds the stem 61 of the spark plug 16 andholds the conducting member in place.

F rom-the foregoing description it will be;

apparent that if the inner tubular' conductor' 26 be charged bya high potential current that, the current will be conveyedto the respective spark plug, when the buttons as when the acket 21 is 41 -44 come into conjunction with the. re-

spectivejshoe 50, and it will be-further manifest the distance between the [stem 4548 and the spark plug 16, when varied will be compensated for by the telescopic arrangement of the conductors -54;and 57.

The current from the, magneto 12 maybe conveyed to the rotatable conductor 26 by.

means of the lever 62 that ispivoted as at- 63 to a portion of the magneto. When the end of the said lever'is'brought intocontac't with the projecting end 28, of the-rotating member 26. A reciprocatable rod 65 is supthe induction coil.

.erably of insulating material, so that when the rod 65 is pushed toward the magneto the link 69 will press the lever 62 into conf tact'with the conducting portion 28 of the rotating member-26 and thereby convey the current generated by the magneto to the said rotating member. WVhen a magneto only, is used for supplying current for this purpose,

' the connection just described is sufficient,

but if two sources of electrical energy are to be alternatively utilized for the same set of spark plugs, it may be done conveniently in the manner now to be described.

70 isa battery,.adapted' to energize an induction coil 71, that is located in a casing 72. The positive end of the battery is conducted by wire 7 3 to binding post 7 1 and the negative end is connected by wire 7 5 to binding post 76. Inside-0f the casing 7 2, is a vibratable, hand operated bifurcated lever 77, pivoted as at 78, and carrying a conductor 79, on one of its ends, anda conductor 80 on its other end. A'corresponding lever 81, is shown in Fig. -1, located on the outside of the casing 72, whereby the lever. 77 located within-the casing may be coincidently moved when the handle 82, ofthe lever 81' is grasped by the hand of the operator. On the lower extended end of the lever 81, is connected a link 84,.pivoted thereto, as at 85, and to the reciprccatable rod 65, as at 86. This link is composed, prefer ably, of insulating material, such as hard rubber, so as not to ground any portion of the conducting devices that are contained within the casing-72. One of the primary terminals 87 of the induction coil 71, is connected to the binding post 74, the other similartermihal, 88 is connected to the binding post 76 through part 80 and contacts 96 and 97 thereby completing the primary circuit of The rotating. member 26 is connected to i the terminal 89, of the casing 71, by Wire 90 and this terminal is connected on the inside of the casing; with a secondary terminal of the inductionjcoil by a wire 91.- The other terminal of the secondary circuit, of the induetioncoil 71, is connected to a contact 98, adapted for connection with the movable switch part 79. The companion contact, 94, is connected by any convenient means, to

any portion of the frame of the engine, or

in other words it is grounded.

When the outside handle 81 is moved'to the left, immediately over the button 95, the switchpart 80, makes electrical connection with the contacts 96 and 97, these contacts being connected with the binding post 76,

' by a-wire 98, and by the Wire 88 to the primary terminals of the induction coil, re-

spectively. Now when the handle 82, of the lever 81, is grasped, and the lever is pulled over to the left, until it is immediately over the button 95, the rod is thereby reciprocated and the connections within the casing 72 are completed in the manner heretofore described and at the same time the pivoted lever 62, is removed from contact with the connecting part 28, of the rotating, conduct ing member 26, so that the rotating member 2-6 is now energized, bythe instrumentality of the battery 7 3, and its coacting induction coil 71, in a manner well understood by persons skilled in theart.

In order that the spark-time relation may be varied, the jacket 21 is capable of oscillation upon its bearings and 23, so that the association between the conducting shoes 50 of the respective parts -15-i8 may be made sooner or later with regard to the conducting'buttons 41-414 which are parts of the rotating member, and to this end I provide a projecting arm 100, on one side of the casing, connected by a link 101, pivoted thereto, as at 102, and also pivoted, as at 103, to a crank arm 10-1. Thislatter arm is rotatively secured to a shaft 105 which is supported in the brackets 66 and 67. On the outer end of the shaft 103 is a crank arm, 106 connected to the crank arm 20 by means of a link 107, so that when the shaft 19 is oscillated, through this connecting mechanism, the shaft 105, is oscillated and the jacket 21 is correspondingly oscillated, so as to move the contact shoes 50 to the right, or to the left, as desired, with reference to the respective rotatable contacts 4-1-i4 carried by the rotatable member 26, thereby to change the time relation 'ofthe spark with reference to the respective reciprocating pistons of the internal combustion engine. It is of course manifest that either the battery or the magneto may be used independently of the other, and alternatively, as desired, in connection with my current conducting, and distributing device.

In ordinary practice each of the spark plugs are separately connected to the distributer, located at a remote point'from the plugs, by means of a delicate conducting wire, overburdened with heavy coatings of insulation, and as the current, to be carried by these conductors, isslight the wires are correspondingly small and are not sufficient to withstand the constant vibration which results from the operation of the engine and Y which finally produces crystallizationin the ing a plurality ofcylinders and My device is bodily supported so as to be unaffected by the vibration produced by the engine and it is soarra'nged that the conducto'r thereof is protected by the highest quality of insulation.

While I. have herein shown andv described a single embodiment of my invention for the. purpose "of clear disclosure it is to be understood that'myinvention is notto be limited to the single exemplification further than defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claiinis: l v y y 1. A device of the character described,- for cooperative association with an engine hav ing spark plu-gs, compri sing a cylindrical acket; an elongated, lnsulated, rotatable hollow. conductor, projecting through said v jacket at both ends and rotatably supported 'contact buttons projecting in said jacket; laterally through Sftldinsulation at intervals along said conductor and connected thereto; means for making electric connection with said conductor at either projecting end; relatively stationary conductors. for connectionrespectively to said spark plugs adapted for electric cooperation in' relative order with said rotatable buttons and means for electrically energizing said rotatable conductor.

2. A. device oi. the character described, for cooperative associatlon with an engine having a plurality of cylinders and correspond;

ing spark plugs, comprising an elongated,-

insulated rotatable hollow conductor, adapted for rotatable support on said engine;

contact buttons projectingthrough said insulation at intervals along and connected to said conductor a acket 'inclosing said conductor throug-lrwhich said conductor passes and from which it projects; relatively sta" tionary coi-iductors supported on "said jacket for connection, respectively, to'said 'spark plugs adapted forqelectric cooperation, in relative order, and a shaft extending into said hollow conductorand projecting from said jacket to all'ord means for rotating said conductor.v A (lBYIC-O oi the character described, for

cooperation with an internal combustion en gine having a spark plug, comprising a protecting jacket; straps for securing it-t0 an; engine. one at 'each end; an elongated, in'. su-lated electric. jconductorrotatable in saidprojecting at each" end =therejacket and from; ball earing .members" Within. said jacket, upolrwliiclr said conductor is rotatable; electric connections adapted for connection to each end of the projecting s'tru c-- ture: a conducting button projecting from one side and connected to-said'conductor; a-

yieldable button projecting into said jacket and upported thereon -for electrical cooperation with said conducting button and correspondwith said rotatable buttons,-

means for connecting said yieldable' button to'said spark plug. r 4. In a device of the character described, 1n combinatlon with an internalfcombu'stion engine having a plurality ofspa'rk plugs,-

of an insulated, rotatable conductor; a con.-

ducting button projecting from, one sidethereof and connected thereto; a relatively stationary, l protecting jacket surrounding said rotatable conductor and SllpPOlbQd-llOn said engine; a cooperating conducting terminal, in substantially-the same radial plane Y 'as said button, supported on said jacket;

means for'rotatingsaid conductor; means 80' v for energizing said rotatable conductor and means for oscillating said jacket to change.

the time of coincidence of said rotatable button and said conducting terminal.

5. In a device of the character described,

in combination with an internal combustion engine having a plurality ofspark plugs,

of aninsulated, rotatable conductor;- con-' ducting buttons projecting from the sides thereof and connected thereto;.a relatively stationary protecting jacket surrounding said rotatable conductor and supported on said engine; cooperating conductingterminals .in' substantially the same radia plane as the respective buttons, supported on said jacket, there being one said button and one, said terminal for each of said spark plugs means for rotating said conductor;

two sources of electric current for energiz-j.

ing said conductor; means for oscillating said jacket to change the time of coincidence of said rotatable button and said conducting terminal and means for alternatively'connecting' either source of electric current in circuit with said, rotatable conductor.

6. In a'device of the character'described, in combination with an internal combustion engine having a plurality of spark plugs, of

its

an insulated rotatable conductor; a correspending number. .ofconducting :buttons projecting. therefrom,lone .for each spark in combination with an internal combustion engine having plurality of spark plugs,

not an insulated conductor provided .with bearings for rotation in a surrounding proa plurality of conducting tecting jacket;

a plurality of zoo-acting, conbuttons projecting therefrom ,and suitably.

disposed, one for each spark plug a pro- 'tectmg acket surrounding said conduction;

provided with Ibearings therefor; 1 a phirality of co-acting condueting terminals, in In- Witness \ivhereof, I have hereunto substantially the same longitudinal plane, my hand and aifiXed'my seal, this 7th day 10 one for each spark plug, supported on said of June, A. D. 1913.

jacket,means for oscillating said jacket to Lchange the time of coincidence of said buta FRANKQLEZIKA' tons and respective terminals; and means to Witnesses: rotate said rotatableconductor in cyclic re- J N0. Gr. Emo'rr,

lation. with the power. shaft Of said engine. Mmnnnn Emma. 

